KSA Publishes New Studies on Gambling Behavior in Minors and Young Adults

The Netherlands Gaming Authority (Kansspelautoriteit, KSA) has presented results from three studies focusing on gambling behavior in minors and young adults. These analyses reveal that early contact and the social normalization of gambling expose young individuals to specific risks and provide the KSA with new elements to strengthen the protection of this vulnerable group.

New Evidence on Young Adults' Gambling Behavior Online

The KSA studies detail that a significant portion of young adults (18-24 years) create accounts on legal gambling platforms in the Netherlands shortly after reaching the age of majority. 41% of new accounts in this age range belong to 18-year-olds, with a marked concentration in the weeks following their birthday.

However, while these newcomers constitute a considerable proportion, the data indicates that those over 18 wager less money on average. Unlike previous reports from the KSA, where sports betting was highlighted as an entry point to other gambling products, this time the majority of young adults initiate their participation on online casino platforms rather than in sports.

Minors' Contact with Gambling: Channels and Social Dynamics

A qualitative study conducted by Youngworks for the KSA exposes how many minors have direct or indirect contact with gambling before the age of 18. Although legal products are allowed only for adults, minors access them indirectly: for example, through parents purchasing a scratch card or relatives sharing online accounts.

Gambling often tends to be a group activity that young people consider harmless in that social context. The social aspect is central: poker games among friends or group sports betting are described as common practices. The report indicates that young people identify risky behaviors in "playing alone" and using illegal operators, considering them signs of potential gambling problems.

Preferred Games and Prevalence Among MBO Students

The third line of research, focused on students in vocational education (MBO), shows that gambling among minors is more common than general averages reveal. While 68% of students report not participating in any form of gambling, 28% of surveyed minors admitted to having gambled in the past year. The most frequent forms of gambling were scratch cards, bingo, and slot machines, primarily in physical locations.

These findings confirm that early contact with gambling primarily occurs through legal products and in-person offers, reaffirming the importance of the social environment in risk perception: what is a group hobby for some could be a potential risk factor for regulation.

Implications for Regulatory Strategy and Youth Protection

The increasing normalization of gambling in young people's social environments concerns the KSA, which continues to assess additional protective measures with the competent Ministry. These actions are part of the authority's multi-annual agenda for Protecting against Gambling Harm, currently in inter-institutional collaboration.

The KSA believes that the collected data offer new regulatory tools, although it is already working on initiatives to further restrict minors' and young adults' access to gambling products. Future measures may address the contact points identified in the studies, focusing prevention efforts on the family and social environments.

"Gambling is highly normalized in our society, and children come into contact with it in various ways from a young age," states the KSA in its summary, anticipating future awareness campaigns and enhanced control.

Evolution of Gambling in Young People: New Priorities for the KSA

Tracking the trends highlighted in these studies will serve as a basis for adjusting regulations and prevention policies, especially concerning the influence of the social environment and minors' access to legal products. The official agenda aims to strengthen cooperation between the KSA, the Ministry, and educational stakeholders to counteract the social normalization of gambling and its associated risks.